Posts Tagged ‘writing’

Titles, Cover Art and Random Wonderful Things…

November 23, 2009

So. My novel, out in July, was originally titled No Tea For The Fever.

And that title was scrapped by the publishers. Too literary. (Ouch!)

I submitted two more titles. The answers were no. And no.

I chewed my nails, rocked back and forth in a little ball and tried not to cry.

And finally. My editor broke the news to me.

My novel would be called…

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What We Can All Learn From XYZPublicist

November 18, 2009

So.

Each month, I edit a relationship column for a national, women’s lifestyle publication. Sometimes I write the column myself. If I’m extremely swamped, I assign the story out to another freelance writer.

It’s one of my many hustles. And I like that I have to think like an editor. It helps me when I’m trying to pitch articles to other editors.

In my line of work as an editor, I deal with publicists, usually for authors who have written books about relationship issues or therapists, professors and other folks who are experts in relationship stuff.

There are many times that I find myself staring at a deadline and I have all my interviews completed for a story–but I haven’t found a relationship expert to interview. So I’m scrambling like mad, emailing folks to try and secure someone for my column.

(I’m getting to a point here.)

It would make sense to prepare for this in advance and line up interviews with several authors, professors and therapists.

But I don’t do that. I scramble at deadline time. Most editors do.

So. November 4th, I get an email.

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Writing 101: Five Books You Need In Your Life

November 10, 2009

writing-2

It’s often said that good writers are good readers.

In the early days of my career, I read everything I could get my hands on. I subscribed to over twenty different magazines and spent what little money I had in Barnes and Noble every weekend.

I don’t read nearly as much as I should anymore.

But I do carry many of the lessons from a few of my favorite  books in writing.

If you’re new to writing. Or just need to reinvigorate. Cop these joints. Today.

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